The NOW asked each Burnaby candidate to answer 10 questions ahead of the provincial election on Oct. 19.
We will be publishing candidate answers by question daily.
Answers by candidates who participated are listed in alphabetical order by surname.
Question: Will you fund TransLink? Do you believe Burnaby is still in need of more transit options considering projected population growth?
Reah Arora - BC NDP (Burnaby East)
Transit is a critical part of tackling both affordability and the climate crisis and needs sustainable funding. Transit needs to be expanded both by increasing the number of routes and also capacity across the system, including Burnaby. The BC NDP government made transit free for those 12 and under, and has funded the UPass system saving post-secondary students thousands of dollars. We also recently announced free transit for seniors in off peak hours. The success of these programs has meant increased usage. Both ongoing capital funding and service funding are needed for Translink and I’ll be a constant advocate for that!
Simon Chandler - Conservative Party of BC (Burnaby East)
The Conservative Party of BC aims to Get BC Moving. We will invest in needed transportation projects to improve safety and reduce congestion. We have witnessed nothing but bottlenecks, delays, and inefficiencies in our transportation system. British Columbians deserve better.
Meiling Chia - Unaffiliated (Burnaby South-Metrotown)
I am committed to funding TransLink, as our infrastructure requires significant improvement. With our population growth far outpacing current transit options, we need to expand and enhance our transportation network to meet the needs of our communities effectively. Investing in better transit solutions is crucial for a more connected and accessible region.
Paul Choi - BC NDP (Burnaby South-Metrotown)
Our communities are growing, and people need to be able to work, run errands and get home quickly. Translink and the provincial government are in the middle of building the public transit that people need, including the Surrey Langley Skytrain and Broadway Subway extensions. These rapid transit expansions and increasing bus service throughout our communities mean that people can spend more time with their families.
John Rustad and the BC Conservatives would cut provincial capital investments, leading to major projects being cancelled or delayed.
Raj Chouhan - BC NDP (Burnaby-New Westminster)
Our communities are growing, and people need to be able to go to work, run errands and get home quickly. As we build more housing near transit stations, it's crucial we match that housing with investments in public transit. We’re building the Surrey Langley Skytrain, the Broadway Subway extension, and increasing bus service throughout the region. We have also announced that we will fund bus rapid transit from Metrotown to Park Royal, with a commitment to move towards rail technology in the long term. We made transit free for children under 12, and seeing the success of that policy, we are committed to helping seniors remain mobile by making transit free for them during off peak hours. Your BC NDP government has always provided TransLink with the funding they need to operate while expanding services. We will continue to do so because that's how we keep our economy moving and reduce carbon emissions. John Rustad would bring back tolls, cancel infrastructure projects and cut transit, making traffic worse. We can’t afford his outdated way of thinking about transportation and growing communities.
Anne Kang - BC NDP (Burnaby Centre)
Burnaby and Metro Vancouver are facing increased population growth due to federal immigration policy. Transit and infrastructure must keep up. The BC NDP has and will fund TransLink and support the purchase and expansion of new buses and future service increases. Earlier this year, the BC NDP government committed $300 million dollars to TransLink to supplement the $479 million provided to them in 2023 to further support the TransLink 2024 Investment Plan. The BC NDP has invested in major expansions of TransLink’s network and has made transportation a priority over the last 7 years. This includes the SkyTrain extension to Surrey and Langley, as well as the Broadway Subway project that will extend the Millennium Line. Additionally, the BC NDP will bring a new rapid transit line that will extend from Metrotown to the North Shore and will target expansion of rapid transit to either light rail or a SkyTrain. A BC NDP government will continue to be responsive to the transportation needs of Metro Vancouver. I will continue to advocate for the expansion of transportation projects in Burnaby in order to ensure increased and improved transit options that are responsive to the growth of our community.
Martin Kendell - Independent (Burnaby North)
A dependable and robust transit system is one of the best investments that this province can make in order to slow global warming and reduce the dependence on single passenger vehicles that are increasingly clogging our roads across BC.
The government of British Columbia is losing precious tax revenue which was used to pay for mass transit as more and more people switch over to electric and hybrid vehicles. To counter this, BC should consider implementing usage fees on all vehicles by weight and distance travelled that will pay for transit alternatives while encouraging people to get out of their personal vehicles and using more efficient forms of transportation.
After the Surrey Skytrain extension is complete in late 2029, the Province of British Columbia should continue investing in rapid transit by building a north/south Skytrain line from North Vancouver along Hastings Street and Willingdon Avenue to Metrotown Station to support large amounts of population growth along those corridors. The province and Translink also need to invest in more buses to make sure a growing ridership can be moved efficiently across the transit system.
Han Lee - Conservative Party of BC (Burnaby South-Metrotown)
Yes, Burnaby is growing, and with it, the demand for reliable and efficient public transit. The Conservative Party supports expanding SkyTrain to Newton and regional transit options for areas like the Fraser Valley. Our focus is on fully funding TransLink for two years while auditing its financial model to ensure long term stability and service improvements.
Carrie McLaren - BC Green Party (Burnaby South-Metrotown)
YES… and make it free to all riders. Yes Burnaby is still under served. I take transit daily and it can take me an HOUR to get from one side of the city to the other… due to reduced service times or very windy routes. We need to increase ridership with increased service, spend as much on public transportation as the government currently spends on highway infrastructure and operations.
Janet Routledge - BC NDP (Burnaby North)
Burnaby is growing quickly, and people need a reliable public transit system to get them where they need to go. We support Translink, and we’re investing in public transit across the Lower Mainland. These investments will help to address current needs, and serve as a platform for future investments.
Tara Shustarian - BC Green Party (Burnaby East)
Burnaby citizens contribute a lot in taxes toward TransLink. Recently it was announced those contributions will be substantially increased over the next two years. In short, Burnaby is paying taxes towards transit and I would like to see as much of its contributions as possible be invested back into Burnaby’s transit system and active transportation network. I ride transit, and compared to other systems in the world it is very good, but there is always room for improvement, and to meet future demands. We are expensive as compared to mass transit in Europe and other parts of the world. Transit has to be reliable as our population grows so that we see this as an option instead of our cars.It has to be affordable so that a family can travel inexpensively rather than drive. This will mitigate traffic congestion and improve air quality. We have to think outside the box and revive the interurban rail, a less expensive option and continue to advocate for subsidized bus passes for economically underrepresented and low income citizens. This is also our reality with projected population growth.
